Wire gripping mechanism



June 24, 1958' 1 D. Mr-:RsEK 2,840,381

' WIRE GRIPPIN MECHANISM r Filed July 2, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Arr-ogn June 24, 1958 L. D. MERSEK WIRE GRIPPING MECHANISM A5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 2,41955 INVENTOR.v 6o 0. Maese-K Bw Wx; Arras/Veys June 24, 1958 I .k-b. MERsEK 2,840,381 l wm: GRIPPING MEcHANrsM 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 2, '1953 June 24, 1958 L. D. MERSEK 2,840,381

' l WIRE GRIPPING MEcHANIsM l Filed July '2, 1953 5 sheets-sheet 4 fica. 6

INVENToR. 0. Maese-K June 24, 1958 L. D. MERSEK WIRE-.GRIPPING LECHANISM ,f 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 2, 1953 INVENTOR. so 0. M esel( l u f l ,4free/vs?? United States Patent O WIRE GREPPING MECHANISM Leo D. Mersek, Euclid, Ohio, assignor to The Ajax Manufacturing Company, Euclid, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio,

Application July 2, 1953, Serial No. 365,611 7 Claims. (ci. 279-1) This invention relates to grip mechanisms for gripping wire, or the like, as for example, in conjunction with wire ydrawing and/or feeding operations being performed in advance of a cold-header or other fabricating machine to which the wire is being supplied. A v

`In order to properly determine the length of wire stock to be operated upon by the header, it has heretofore been necessary to providethe header with feed rolls and a feed'stop. It has also been necessary to take precautions to see that thev Wire is `abutted and held against the feed stop by an overfeeding action of the feed rolls, for each cutoff or forming operation being performed by the header. The novel grip mechanism of the present in- Vention not only eliminates 'the need for such a feed stop whenfeedingthe wire by means of feed rolls, but also permits the use of a positive feed mechanism such as a so-calledchiselftype of feed frequently used in nail making machines. Y Such chisel type of feed and various other forms 'of feeds have been found objectionable as tending yto mar the wire when the latter is subjected to any pullback movement. vAs will be apparent hereinafter, the novel grip mechanism of this invention prevents Iany pull-back movement of the wire, and hence, removes the objection previously raised against these various forms of feeds. Y

This novelk grip mechanism also accommodates a plurality 'of separate strands vof wire rather than the single strand to which previous grip mechanisms have been limited. ln previous grip mechanisms embodying tapered grip blocks, at least a small amount of pull-back movement of the wire for rendering the grip blocks effective has been unavoidable and this pull-back movement has made it diilicult to obtain an accurate and satisfactory feeding of the wire except by an `overfeeding of the wire against afeed stop by means of feed rolls. Since the grip mechanismof this invention eliminates all such pull-back movement, it -eliminates the feeding inaccuracies and other objections incident thereto, as well as `the longitudinal shifting ofthe grip blocks which heretofore occurred as a part of such pull-back movement.

Agrip mechanism for gripping wireor thelike, in either 'single or multiple strands and which has a positive actuation such that the -gripping and releasing of the wire can be accurately timed in relation to drawing and/ or feeding operations being performed on the wire, such as the drawing and feeding operations performed in conjunction with awire drawer used in advance of a cold-header.

Another object is to provide grip mechanism of this kind in which a relative closing movement between cov As one lof its objects, this invention provides novel'L operating grip Vblocks i's produced by the camming action f icc nism in which the grip blocks are located in a grip box and constitute a group, preferably of three or more grip blocks, for gripping two or more strands of wire and in which the wedge member is movable inthe grip box between such group and an adjacent abutment means.

It is likewise an object of this invention to provide a novel grip mechanism in which the elimination of the longitudinai shifting of the grip blocks leaves the gripping and releasing actions to be determined only by the limited lateral relative shifting of the grip blocks such that by maintaining the lateral movement at a minimum, a small wedge angle is feasible and will produce a heavy gripping pressure in response 'to a relatively small actuating force, such as the pressure of a relatively light setting spring, applied to the movable wedge member.

A further object is to provide a grip mechanism of the character indicated above in which spring means effective on the wedge member through either a pulling or pushing force tendsto move the wedge member in a direction to produce the relative closing movement of the grip blocks, and in which actuating means operable to kmove the wedge member in the opposite or grip-releasing direction becomes effective after the closing of an intervening clearance space.

As another of its objects, this invention provides novel grip mechanism of the kind above referred to which is cyclically operable and in which the wedge actuating means is cam-operated, preferably by cam means associated with the driving means for the'wire drawer.

Additionally, this invention provides novel grip mechanism of this kind in which the wedge member is servomotor actuated. y

The invention can be further briefly summarized as consisting in certain novel combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and particularly Vset out in the claims hereof.

In the accompanying sheets of drawings, forming a pa'rvt of this speciiication:

Fig. 1 is a partial plan view showing thenovel grip mechanism being used with a wire drawer; Y A

Fig. 2 is a partial side elevation of the grip mechanism and Wire drawer;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the grip mechainsm of Fig. `1

Vgrip mechanism as indicated by the Vsection line 6 6 of Figs. 1 and 3;

Fig. 7 is a parti-a1 plan view showing a modified construction in which another form of actuating means is provided forY the grip mechanism and in which the grip mechanism'is being used with a wire drawer;

Fig. 8 is mainly a side elevation of the grip mechanism and wire drawer yof Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a partial Vlongitudinal vertical section taken through the grip mechanism of Figs. 7 and I8, the view being taken substantially as indicated by section line 9 9 of Fig. 7; v

lFig. 10 isa partial side elevation with certain portions broken away, showing ythe novel grip mechanism as being servo-motor actuated and as being used with a wire drawer; ,l

Fig. 11 is a partial |plan view showing actuating means for the wire drawer and also showing limit switch means for controlling the servo-motor;

Fig. 12 is a vertical section taken on section line` 12-12 of Fig. l1; and

Fig. 13 is a further modification showing a group of grip blocks in detached relation and adapted to grip a larger number of wires.

In Figs. l to 6 inclusive, the novel grip mechanism 10 is shown as. being used in conjunction with a wire drawer 11 and as operating on a plurality of independent strands `of wir`e,in .thisinstance two such strands 12 and 13.

Although the grip mechanism 10 is here shown as operating on two strandsof wire, this mechanism is also readily adaptable for operation on a single strand of wire' or on more thamtwo stands, `as will be more fully explained hereinafter.

The wire drawer 11 is more fully disclosed in earlier Patent 2,226,400, granted December 24, 19,40. For purposes of thepresent, disclosure, it is suflicient to explain that the wiredrawer 11 is of thereciprocating type comprising a frame p14 and adie box 15 reciprocablymovable in the frame and `carrying suitable die means 16.for performingsuecessive drawing strokes on the wire; `The drawing strokes are produced by movement of the die box 15in adirection away from the grip mechanism 10 by means of a swinging draw lever 17.

The'` returnl movement or idle stroke of the die box 15 v is vin a direction toward the 'grip mechanismv 10 and it is duringkthis return j movement of the die box that the wires 12, and 13 are advanced through the grip mechanism in the direction indicatedby `the arrow 18 and are supplied to the 'cold-header by the feed rolls of the latter. The return movement of-,the die box 15 is assisted by return'sprin'g means` 19 `engagingl this die box and takes place during the forward feeding of the wire. The ,draw lever 17 isrrockably supported in the frame 14 by transverse pivot means 20 and swinging movement is imparted to the vdrawlever by the'rotation `ofan actuating shaft 21 which issuitably driven andy which carries a crankpin or eccentric `22 with @which the lower end of the draw lever is connectedby the connecting rod 23.

, The grip` mechanism 10, as usedin conjunctionwith `the Wire drawer 1p1, serves to hold the wires 12 and V13 against backward movement during the drawing stroke of the diebox 1,5, that is to say, against backward movel ment While the die means 16 is being pushed over the wires to perform thedrawing stroke thereon. The grip mechanism ltlpermits a free forward movement of the:

wires 12 and 13 therethrough ,while `thefdrawn wire is p being fed `to the header, but when the desired yamount of 'forward feeding'` of` the wirehas taken place, the grip mechanism grips the wires and maintains its grip on the wires Yduring the succeeding drawing stroke of the die box 15. Upon the completion `of the ,drawing stroke of the, die box, the grip mechanism 10 is actuated to release its grip on the `wiresto permitthe subsequent feeding of the drawnwire's to the header.` The grip mechanismr 10, as used in conjunction with the reciprocating wire drawer 11, thus has a sequentialor cyclical operation in timed relation to the reciprocating drawing and return strokes of thediebox;` f .l Y t p t As shownin thedrawing's, the grip mechanism 10 comprises a Agripwbox25 which is suitably mounted on the frame 14 of the wire 4drawerll andwhich has pairs of Opposed "sidewalls 2627 and 12.8, 29 definingfafgrip chamber 30. The grip mechanism 10,-also ycomprises a pluralityof grip blocksjdisposed in `grouped cooperating relation in Vthe chamber 30 and which,in this instance.,

consistfof `side blocks 31 and `32 and` an intermediate block 33. In the grip mechanismhere shown, the three .grip blocks' 31, 32 `and 333. are employed for gripping the two strands of wire` 12 and ,13, but in other` applications of the present invention ingwhich a single strand of Awire is to be gripped, only two grip blocks would `be needed and `intltlattcase, the intermediatewgrip blocks V33 would side blocks 31 and 32, the number of such intermediate blocks depending upon the number of strands of wire and always being one less than the number of such strands. Fig. 13 shows such a modified construction in `which three of the intermediate grip blocks 33 are .provided between the side blocks 31 and 32 for gripping four wires.

The grip blocks 31 and 33 constitute one pair of such blocks which serve the wire 12, and the grip blocks 32 and 33 constitute a second pair of such blocks which serve the wire 13. The intermediate block 33 is thus common to both of these pairs of blocks inasmuch as the intermediate block serves both of the wires 12 and 13. The grips blocks 31 and 33 have adjacent cooperating complemental grip elements 34 and 35 thereon Awhich grip the wire 12 in response to a lateral or transverse relative closing movement between these blocks. In this instance, the cooperating grip elements 34 and 35 are grooves or partial grooves formed in the adjacent faces of the blocks 31 and 33 and define a grip passage 36 through which the wire 12 extends.

Similarly, the grip blocks 32 and 33 have cooperating complemental grip elements 37 and 38 thereon which grip the wire 13 in response to a lateral or transverse relative closing movement between these blocks. The grip elements 37 and 38 are, likewise, in theforrn of grooves or partial grooves formed in the adjacent faces of the blocks 32 and 33 and which define a grip passage 39 through which the wire 13 extends.

The side walls 26 and 27 of the gripbox 25 constitute abutment walls between which the-group of gripvblocks is located. l Abutment members .40 and 41 are located in the grip box and lie `against the side walls 26 and 27 thereof. The abutment member 40 is engaged directly by the outer side face 42 of the side` block 31, and the outer side face 43 ofthe side blockY 32 is presented `toward the abutment member 41 but isspaced therefrom by an intervening space 44 of substantial width. The side block 31 is of a'substantially straight or regularshape having substantially parallel side faces, but the` side block 32 is a wedge-shapedblockl whose outer side face 43 forms a bearing surface which extends in a relatively inclined relation to the feed andV drawing axes 12 and 13 `of the wires 12 and 13. A bearing plate 45 lying against the abutment member 41 has a substantially flat bearing surface 46 which is in substantially parallel relation with the feed and drawing axes 12'* and 13 and faces 'toward the inclined side face 43 of the grip block 32. i

I, The grip blocks 31, 32 and 33 havesubstantially no longitudinal movementV in the grip box 25, inasmuch as these grip blocks are of a length whichis only slightly less than the distance between the adjacent faces of the walls 28 and 29, and are firmlyy held against the .wall 29'by the action of a compression spring 47 on these blocks.V The spring is seated in a threaded hollow plug 47'* and its compression can be varied by screwing the plug inwardly or outwardly of a threaded opening in which it is mounted.

`The relative closing lateral or transverse movement which renders the grip passages 36 and 39 elective on the wiresv12and 13, is produced by longitudinal movement of a wedge member 48 in the grip box 25 in the intervening space 44 between the side block 32 and the gearing plate 45. As shown in the drawings, the space 44 defines a tapered guideway extending substantially parallel to the grip passages and in which guideway the I wedge member 48 is reciprocably movable. The wedge member 48 is here shownas having a straight, at bearing surface 49 on one side `thereof which is presented toward the bearing surface 46 of the bearing plate 45, and

.onthe opposite sidev thereof, has Y,a relatively inclined bearing surface 50 which is presented toward the inc'lined kbearing surface 43 of the side block 32.

The wedge member 48 can be used with the bearing surfaces 49 and 50 thereof in direct Vsliding engagement with the bearing surfaces 46 and 43, .but preferably and as here shown, antifriction bearing units 51f and 52 are provided between these pairs of kbearing surfaces. The bearing unit 51 comprises suitable cage means 53 and a longitudinal row of rollers 54 retained in such cage means and disposed between the pair of inclined bearing surfaces 43 and 50. The bearing unit 52 similarly comprises suitable cage means 55 and a row of rollers 56 retained in the cage means and disposed between the pair of straight bearing surfaces 46 and 49.

The grip box 25 is provided at the bottom of the chamber 30 with a bottom bearing plate 57 on which the grip blocks 31, 32 and 33, and the wedge member 48 are slidably supported. The bottom plate 57 also supports the bearing units 51 and 52, the bearing plate 45 and the abutment members 40 and 41. Screws 58 and 59 engaged in the abutment members 40 Vand 41 provide a lifting means for these members by which their removal from the grip box is facilitated. The grip box 25, with the above-described grip .mechanism components assembled therein is secured to the frame 14 of the wire drawer by suitable bolts 60.

When longitudinal movement is imparted to the wedge member 48 in the direction of the advance movement of the wires 12 and 13, this wedge member exerts a spreading action between the bearing surface 46 and the inclined bearing surface 43 of the side block 32 which results in a compressive force being applied to the group of grip blocks transversely thereof between the inclined bearing surface 50 and the abutment member 40. This compressive force causes relative closing movement between the adjacent blocks ofthe group to produce the above-mentioned gripping action of 'thegrip passages' 36 and 39 on the wires 12 and 13. Longitudinal movement of the wedge member 48 in the opposite direction causes this compressive force on the block group to be relieved, whereupon compression springs 61 and '62 embodied in the block group cause relative separating or expanding movement between the adjacent blocks for releasing the gripping engagement on the wires 12 `and 13.

Shifting 'or chat-tering of the bearing units S1 and S2 in the grip -box 2S is prevented during these movements ofthe wedge member 48, preferably byrmeans of tension springs 63 and 64. These tension springs are located in longitudinal openings 65 of the side wall 29 of the grip box, and are provided at lone end thereof with hook elements 66 by which they are connected with the respective bearing units 51 and 52. At the loppos-iteend thereof, the tension springs 63 and 64 are provided with hook elements -67 which are connected with-lanchor kpins 68 supported by the side wall 29 of 'the grip box.v

The above-mentioned longitudinal movements of the wedge member 48 are imparted thereto through stem means connected with this wedge member and projecting 'from the grip box 2S. ln this instance, the stem means threaded connection and by a transverse locking pin 72.

The outer end of the stem 70 carries an -adjustably Ymounted collar 73 through which the actuating thrust for-the wedge member 48 is imparted to -this stem.

The collar 73 is here shown as comprising a block '73 having an axial recess 74 in the fend thereof facing toward the grip box 25. The recessed -end of the collar 73 is provided with a substantiallyradially projecting annular flange 75 Vand the opposite end of thecollar is provided with a threaded axial opening "76 which cornmunicates with the recess 74. The collar 73 is mounted on the outer end of the stem 70 by means of an externally and internally threaded bushing 77. The external thread of this bushing engages yin the threaded opening 76 of the collar and the 'internal thread 'of this bushing engages the threaded louterend `78e of the stem 7i).

The longitudinal movementfof thewedge member Y48 in the wire gripping direction is produced by a `compression spring 78 located in su-rrou'ndingrelation tothe stern` 70 and disposed between the side wall 28 ofthe grip box and a spring seat 79 formed on or carried by the inner end of the bushing 77. One end of the spring 78 is received in a recess 80 of the wall 28, and the other end of the spring extends into the recess 74 of thecollar 73. The expansive force of the Aspring 78 exerts an outward pull on the stem 70, such that the wedge member 48 is constantly being urged in a direction to cause gripping engagement of the blocks with the wires 12 and 13.

The movement of the wedge member 48 in the opposite or grip-releasing direction is produced by `actuating means cooperating with the collar 73 and which, in this instance, includes an upright lever 81 swingably mounted in a bracket 82 of the frame 14 by a pivot pin 83. The upper end of the lever A81 is a forked portion 84 which straddles the block 73a of the collar 73 and is normally spaced from the flange 75 by an intervening clearance space 85. The lower end of the lever 81 carries a cam follower in the form of a roller 86 which engages a rotary cam 87 mounted on the actuating shaft 21. The cam 87 is provided with a lift portion 88 and with high and low dwell portions 882L and 881 of a predetermined angular extent in relation to the desired actuation of the die box 15 by the ldraw lever 17.

The roller 86 is maintained in engagement with the cam 87 by a compression spring 89 disposed between the upper portion of the lever 81 and the frame 14. The outer end of this spring is received in a hollow spring seat 90 which is in .the form of a screw plug engaged in a threaded opening 91 of the lever. The compression of the spring 89 can be varied as desired by adjustment of the plug 90 in the threaded opening 91.

The compression spring 89 also serves to maintain the clearance space between the forked portion 84 of the lever 81 and the flange 75 ofthe collar 73. The presence of this clearance space 85 is important because it permits the compression spring 78 to move the wedge member 48 to lthe full extent necessary to produce an effective gripping of the Wires 12 and 13 by the grip blocks. During the grip-releasing actuation of the wedge member 48, the lever 81 is swung through an initial distance sufcient to take up the clearance space 85 before this lever becomes effective on the collar 73 for producing the gripreleasing movement of the wedge member.

position of desired adjustment by means of a lockn-ut 93 provided thereon.

From the construction of the grip mechanism 10 vand its relation to the wire drawer 11, as above described, it will be seen that clockwise rotation of the actuating shaft 2'1 will be elfective through the crankpin 22 and the connecting rod 23 to produce successive drawing strokes of the `die box 15 by the draw lever 17. This `clockwise rotation of the actuating shaft 21 Will also bring the lift portion 88 of the cam 87 into engagement with the roller 86 to thereby cause a clockwise swinging of the lever 81 by which the gripping engagement of the grip blocks with the wires 12 and 13 is released to permit the forwardV feeding of these wires following each such drawing stroke of the die box. During the timeV that theV roller 86 is in engagement with the high dwell portion 88a of the cam 87, the wedge member 48 will be maintained in its grip- Y 73 and permitting the compression spring 78 to produce movement of lthe Wedge member inthe wire gripping direction'.YY V

lever 106andconstantly tends to move the wedge memageaogssr Figs'.17','8 and 9 of the drawings show a grip mechanism 95 being sed with a wire drawer96 ywhich is ofthe same @type and general construction as thefwire drawer 11; :The grip mechanism ,95 is generally similar to the grip mecha- `nism and functions in a similar manner, but employs a wedge member 971which is actuated by atpushing force 'transmitted through the sterny 98 forproducing a gripping action `of the gripfblocks f on the wires 12`and13; The wedge memberf97 and theadjacent grip block` 99 have inclinedbearing surfaces 100 and101 which are reversed "as compared withthe direction Vof inclination of the cor responding bearing surfaces 43 andl50 of the wedge mem- Vber '48tof the` grip mechanism 10. .In this modified grip mechanism 95, the bearing units '102 and` 103 serve the same purpose as `the'bearing `nits 51 and 52 of the grip `mechanism 10, but are held against chattering or endwise `movement `in the grip box by plungers 104 which are projected into the chamber of the grip box by compression springs 105.

Actuating movementfor the wedge member 97 Yin `a direction to produce a wire` gripping action by the grip blocks is transmitted to the wedge member from the cam 87 of the wire drawer through linkage which includes a pair of upper and lowerjswingable levers 106 and 107. These levers have their adjacent ends 106 and 107EL in overlapping relation and separated by an `intervening clearance space 108` corresponding with the: clearance space 85 of the grip mechanism 10. The outer end of the stein 98 of the wedge member 97 is provided with a yoke portion `109 which is located'adjacent a yoke portion 110 provided on the upperlend of the upper lever'106.

The yoke portions 109 "and 1710 are flexibly connected by means of 'a thrust link 111 extending therebetween.

The upperlever 106 is swingablymounted in a bracket 112 on theframefof the wire drawer 96 by means of a transverse pivot pin 113. The lower lever 107 is swingably mounted in a bracketr114 by means of `a transverse .pivot pin `11S, and its lower end is provided with a roller 116 forming a cam follower `in engagement with the carng87l`- l v l During the timethat' the roller 116 is in engagement kwith the low portion 88bf of the cam 87, the position of 'the `lower lever y107will be such that the clearance space 108 willbe maintained and the lower lever will then have no effect on the upper (lever 106.y ."The` roller 116 is maintained in engagement with the cam 87 by the force of a compressionsprin'g 117 applied tothe upper end of the lower; lever `107.. T -While-the clearance space 108 is maintained, the -wedge `member 97will be constantly urged in agdir'ection'to produceV gripping of the wires 12 and` 13 b'ythfe force of acompressionspring118app1ied tothe low`r-e`nd of the upperV lever 106. The compression spring 118 has one end thereof in` engagement with the low'er end 1061'of the lever106 and its other end rcceivedwin therecess 119-of"a screw plug 120 having adjustable'iengagement inan internally threaded opening 121 of a'boss 122 provided on the frame of the wire drawer.`

A'pushpip 123 has one end iherefjsudably.extending through anfopening 124 ofthe plug 120, and its other end slidably'extending through an opening :125 of the lever portion 106. At an intermediatevpoint` thereof, the pushpin123jis provided witl'i a colla"126 forming a springseat for the outer end `of the compression spring 117. Therouter end of thepushpinV 123 is provided with a rounded portionwhich engagesjin a g-roove127 of the `lever portion 107.' Y :V n

Fromfthe arrangement and mounting of the compression springs 117 and 118, asjust described above, it will be seen that thecompr'ession spring 117 will 'be effective on the upper-end of the lowerleverr107 throughrthe pushpin 12'3 to"con`stan tly hold the' roller `3116 in engage` merit` withthe'carn 87." It willalso be seen that the compression -spring 118 `ctson the lower 'end vof the upper 75 Vber 97 ina wire gripping direction by a pushing force transmitted through the stem 98. Adjustment of the compressionof the springs 117 and 118 and of the clearance space 108 can be readily produced by screwing the plug inwardly or outwardly` of the threaded opening 121 'as lby'applying a wrench, or the like, to the hexagonshaped integral projection 128 of this plugf By the time that the drawing stroke of the die box 15 has been completed,` the `clockwise rotation ofthe cam 87 willbring the lift portion 88 of the cam in engagement with the roller 116 to thereby cause clockwise: swinging of the lever 107, resulting in inward longitudinal movement of the pushpin 123 in the opening 124 of the plug 120. This clockwise swinging of the lever 107 takes up the clearance space 108, whereupon this lever engages and swings the lever 106 in opposition to the compression spring 118 to thereby apply a pulling force to the stem 98 by which the wedge member 97 is moved longitudinally in a grip-releasing direction.

Figs. 10, 11 and 12 show a grip mechanism 130 `of substantially the same construction as the grip mechanism 95 and being used with a wire drawer 131 which is similar to the wire drawers 11 and 96, with the `exception that the draw lever 17 is actuated by a drag link 132. The wedge member 97 of the grip mechanism 130 is actuated in its wire gripping and grip-releasing directions by servo-motor means, which is here shown as comprising a double acting pressure fluid cylinder device 133.

The drag link 132 of the wire drawer 131 has the outer end thereof connected with a swingable quadrant 134 which in turn is connected with a crankpin or eccentric .135 of a rotatable actuating shaft 136 by a connecting rod 137. The actuating shaft 136 is rotatably journalled in a bearing pedestal 138 which is maintained in fixed relation relative to the frame of the drawer 131 by stay rods 139. i

The actuating shaft 136 is adapted to Ybe driven from an available power take-off of the cold-header with which the wire drawer 131 is being used by means of a chain 140 extending around a sprocket 141 mounted on this shaft. A cam 142 mounted on the shaft 136 actuates a limit switch 143 in timed relation to the operation of the die box 15 of the wire drawer 131 and in timed relation to the operation of the header with which the wire drawer is being used.

The cylinder device 133 comprises a double acting cylinder 145 which has one` end pivotally connected with a mounting bracket 146 provided on the frame of the drawer 131 by means of a pivot pin 147. A piston 148 operable in the cylinder 145 is connected with a piston rod 149 Vwhich is provided `at its outer end with a yoke The piston 148 of the cylinder device 133 is connected with the wedge member 97 of the grip mechanism 130 by linkage which includes a swingable lever 151 having the lower end thereof pivotally connected with the yoke 150 by a pivot pin 152. The lever 151 is swing- `ably supported in a bracket 153 by a pivot pin 154. The upper end of the lever 151 is llexibly connected with the outer end of the stem 98 of the movable wedge member of the grip mechanism 130 by means` of a link 155.

Pressure uid is supplied to and exhausted from the ends of the cylinder 145 through conduits 156 and 157 and such pressure uid is controlled by a solenoid valve device 158. The valve device 158 comprises a valve unit 133 will operate to move the wedge memberandrretain the same in either its grip-producing positionor in its 4grip-releasing position, and that these'movements of the wedge member will be produced in timed relation to the operation -of the wire drawer 131 and in timedrelation to the header with which the wire drawer is used, by the operation of the limit switch 143 by the rotary cam 142.

From the foregoing detailed 'description andthe kaccompanying drawings, it will now be readily understood that this invention'provides novel grip mechanismfor gripping one or more wires and which grip mechanism can be used to `advantage with a wire drawer of the kind frequently employed in conjunction with, and in advance of, a cold-header or other fabricating machine. Additionall it will be seen that thepositive' actuation of the grip mechanism by movable wedge means embodied therein, provides fork gripping and releasing the wire or wires in a predetermined timed relation to the Operation of the wire drawer kand the. operation of. the cold-header, such that the need fora feed stop in the header is eliminated. Likewise, it will be seen that the novel grip mechanism utilizes ka plurality of grip blocks which depend in number upon the number of wires to be gripped and that the gripping action of vall of the blocks of the group is produced simultaneously by the positive actuation of the Wedge means.

It will now also be recognized that since longitudinal movements of the grip blocks is prevented, the undesirable effects of a pull-'back movement of the wire are eliminated such that a more accurate feeding of the wire is obtainable. Moreover, since the gripping and releasing of the wire by the grip blocks is produced by only a minimum amount of relative lateral or transverse movement thereof, a very small wedge anglercan be used such that a heavy gripping force will be developed in response to only a relatively light actuating force applied to the movable wedge member.

Although the novel grip mechanism is disclosed herein as being used in conjunction with a wire drawer, it should be understood that this is by way of example and that this grip mechanism is adaptable to various other uses and mechanisms concerned with the holding or feeding of one or more wires. It should be further understood that although the novel grip mechanism of this invention has been illustrated and described herein to a somewhat detailed extent, the invention is not to be regarded as being limited correspondingly in scope, but includes all changes and modifications coming within the terms of the claims hereof.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. Grip mechanism for gripping a wire or the like comprising, a grip box, a rotatable shaft, a group of lblocks in said box and having cooperating grip elements defining wire gripping means between adjacent blocks, said blocks having relative closing movement therebetween in a direction transverse to the axis `of said wire, abutments in said box on opposite sides of said group of blocks, wedge means movable in said box substantially in the direction of said axis, said wedge means being disposed between and having camming engagements with one of said abutments Vand the adjacent block of said group, fluid pressure responsive cylinder means connected with said wedges means for imparting actuating movement thereto, and valve means operable by and in timed relation to the rotation of said shaft and controlling said cylinder means.

2. Grip mechanism as defined in claim 1`in which said valve means is a solenoid valve means, and in which limit switch means responsive to the rotation of said shaft controls said solenoid valve means.

3. Grip mechanism for gripping a wire or the like comprising, a grip box, a rotatable shaft,l a group of blocks in said box and having cooperating grip elements dening wire gripping means between adjacent blocks, said blocks having relative closing movement therebetween in a direction transverse to the axis of said wire, means cooperating with said group of blocks for causing said relative closing movement including a wedge member movable insaid grip box, stern means connectedwith 'said' wedge memberfandv projecting from said box, -cam means onsaid shaft, 'a-pair of 'rst and second Vswingable levers having ladjacent ends inoverlapping relation with a clearance space therebetween, the remote end of said 1 r'st lever being connected with said stem means andthe remote end of said second lever beingin engagement with said cam means, and spring means cooperating with said adjacentY ends such that spring pressure applied to said first lever tends to move said Wedge member in a direction to produce said relative closing movement and spring pressure applied to said second lever holds the remote end of the latter against said cam means and yieldingly maintains said clearance space. n

, 4. Ina grip device for wire or the like, a plurality of relatively movable blocks having cooperating 'portions 'defining a through passage and a gripping means for the wedge member reciprocably movable along said guideway for camming cooperation with said thrust elements to produce positive closing movement of said blocks for intermittently gripping said wire during the operation of the grip device, a rotatable shaft, and means for causing the reciprocation of said wedge member comprising spring means acting to move the wedge member in one direction along said vguideway and thrust transmitting means efrective between said Shaft and said wedge member for moving the latter along said guideway in the other direction and in opposition to said spring'means.

5. In a grip device for wire or the like, a plurality of relatively movable blocks having cooperating portions dening a through passage and a gripping means for the wire between adjacent blocks, said gripping means being effective to grip the wire in response to a relative closing.

movement of the blocks, a first spring means tending to cause a relative opening movement of said blocks for releasing the wire, support means supporting said blocks for such relative closing and relative opening movement, a pair of relatively inclined and relatively movable thrust elements associated with said blocks, said thrust elements being in a spaced-apart relation defining a tapered guide-` way extending substantially parallel to said through passage, a wedge member reciprocably movable along said guideway for camming cooperation with said elements to produce positive closing movement of said blocks for intermittently gripping said wire during the operation of the grip device, a rotatable shaft, and means for causing the reciprocation of said wedge member comprising a second spring means continuously acting to move said wedge member along said guideway in a direction to pro.-V

duce said relative closing movement and thrust trans-v mitting means effective between said shaft and said wedge member for moving' the latter along said guideway in Vthe other direction and in opposition to said second spring blocks, a pair of relatively inclined and relatively movable thrust elements in said box and associated with said blocks, lsaid thrust elements being in a spaced-apart relation defining a guideway extending substantially parallel to said through passage, a wedge member reciprocably movable alongsaid guideway for camming cooperation, with said thrust elements 'to produceV positive closing f t Fi movement. of said blocks for :intermittently gripping said wire `*during the'operation of thegrip device, stem `means :a t References-'cnedra the me of this patent ff? 'YVUNITED STATESPATENTS 451,004 Great Britain u July 28,? 1936 

